Reinforced package wrapper



Filed Sept. 7, 1949 INVENTOR. JOSEPH ALFRED ANGLADA fiiddmiw g ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 12, 1954 NITED REINFORCED PACKAGE WRAPPER Joseph Alfred Angiada, White Plains, N. Y., as-

signor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 7, 1949, Serial No. 114,434 4 Claims. (01. 229--7) This invention relates to a dispensing package. More particularly it relates to a reinforced dispensing package wrapper and a package of the type which is opened by means of a tear strip incorporated in the wrapper.

Regenerated cellulose films, such as cellophane, make excellent packaging materials due to their high tensile strength as well as presenting a beautiful and attractive package. However, when once a tear is started in regenerated cellulose film, its usefulness as a wrapping material from that point on is practically nil due to its low resistance to the continuation of the tear. This is particularly true in the machine direction, 1. e., the direction on, the casting machine in which the film is formed. In the cross machine direction, 1. e., transverse of the sheet and direction in which the latter moves during formation, the tear resistance is considerably higher.

When a tear strip is employed in a cellophane wrapper it is positioned in the machine direction of the film due to the low tear resistance. In a dispensing package, however, where the tear strip upon removal exposes an opening through which the articles are removed, tearing of the edges occurs and the wrapper tends to loosen from the end portions due to strain on the Wrapper caused by rubbing of the samewhen the articles are removed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved'wrapper which overcomes the aforementioned difiiculties.

'Another object is 'to provide a reinforced package wrapper suitable for use in dispensing packages.

Other advantages and objects will be apparent from the following description.

The objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a regenerated cellulose film wrapper having transversely applied strips of regenerated cellulose film at the points of greatest stress when the wrapper is employed in a package. Transversely of the strip and in the machine direction of the wrapper there is placed a tear strip on top of the strips. When the tear strip is removed the transverse strips remain in position at the ends of the package and being sealed to the wrapper, hold it in place and prevent tearing of the same. The strips, since they cover the edges and corners of the package, also help to prevent tearing of the wrapper which may occur at the points of wear due to handling, namely the corners of the package.

While this invention is described with reference to regenerated cellulose film, such as that manufactured from viscose and commonly known as cellophane, it is also applicable to other nonfibrous films such as of cellulose esters and ethers, films of synthetic resins, such as Vinyon and the like, etc.

The present invention is applicable to dispensing packages for sheet materials such as paper tissues, napkins, and the like, or any other sheet material which is to be used singly and at intervals.

For a more detailed description of the present A invention reference is made to the attached drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of the assembled pack- Fig. 2 is a top view of the reinforced wrapper blank or sheet prior to application to the material to be wrapped, and

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the cardboard package.

Referring to Fig. 2 a sheet 3 of regenerated cellulose film, which may be transparent or colored and cut to a predetermined size depending on the size of the material to be wrapped, is placed in such a manner that the inside surface, i. e.,

the surface which will be in contact with the packaged material, is facing up. A tear strip 4,

of regenerated cellulose film, is positioned across the sheet parallel to the edges l0 and H and intermediate the edges but preferably equidistant therefrom or in the center of the wrapping sheet and in the machine direction of the sheet and extending slightly beyond the outer edges of the sheet so as to form a pull tab 5 at both edges. The tear strip is sealed to the wrapping sheet by means of an adhesive, or heat when the film is coated with a thermoplastic heat sealing coating, or both.

Transverse of the machine direction of the wrapping sheet and the tear strip and over the latter, are placed two reinforcing strips 6 of regenerated cellulose film, preferably made from a heavier film than the wrapping sheet and tear strip. The strips are so positioned that the edges of the material wrapped, i. e., the paper tissues, will extend to the center line of the strips when the tissues are placed with their longer edges parallel to the machine direction of the wrapping sheet and equidistant from the tear strip 4. Thus in the completed package the reinforcing strips will be positioned around the edges of the end walls and overlapping the edges. If desired the reinforcing strips may be positioned so as not to overlap the edges, but it is preferred that they etc., is suitable for this purpose. When the material wrapped is stiff enough to form aself-sustaining package the supporting memberof card-- board or the like may be omitted.

A piece of stiff cardboard 1., as shown in F 8 preferably having rounded corners, is placed on top of the stack of tissues 9, shown in Fig. '1, which have been placed on the wrapping sheet. When the package is wrapped the cardboard forms the bottom of the package. The edges H3 and l l of the wrapping sheet are brought up and over the stack of tissues with the cardboard thereon and the overlapped edges sealed to'eaoh other by means of heat, adhesive, or both. Thus, there is formed a tubular wrapping over theistack of tissues. The endsor" the tube are folded in against the stack of tissues, as shown in Fig. l, in such a manner that the folded outer flap of film 12 adjacent the tear strip is on the outside. The folded end flaps of the wrapping sheet are in turn sealed to each other by means ofheat, adhesive, or both. Preferably, the reinforcing strips are located at or adjacent the bend line for the end.

flap-s.

When the tab of the tearstrip i is grasped between the fingers and pulled up and "along the top of the package an elongated opening 13 is presented out of which the tissues may bare-1 moved. 'The tear strip does not sever the reinforeingstrip 6 since the latteris made of heavier film, the seal is not strong enough to tear the same, and also the reinforcing strip is so p'ositioned that the tear strip traverses the same in thecross machinedireetion. Phe folded end portions to which the tear strip is also sealed are not torn since the seal is not strong enoug hto tear the folded inner flaps M of the wrapping sheet to which the tear strip is sealed.

the reinforcing strips, being sealed to'th'e wrapping sheet, serve to hold the same ih'position after the center-strip of the wrappingsheet is removed by the tear strip. The reinforcing strips also protect it is positioned so as to cover the 'edgcsof the same. Possible points of rupture where the-cardboard corners contact the wrapping sheet are strengthened due to. the reinforcing strips. flfhus the durability and life of the package is greatly enhanced. V I

The present package is advantageous in that the reinforcing strips, strengthen the and. Of. the

the edges of thepackaged material since Stiff cardboard or like material, such as fiberboard,

bus color combinations are possible.

opening formed by the tear strip removal, which heretofore have been vulnerable points. The present package is also advantageous from an economical standpoint since it is made at little extra cost for material. Possibilities of a more attractive package are presented by the present invention since the tear strip and reinforcing strip may be made from different colored regenerated cellulose film than the wrapping sheet, or they may be .uncolored or the same color. Vari- For purposes of identification the tear strip should preferably be a contrasting color to the remainder of the package.

The above description and drawing are intended to be illustrative and any modification of or Variation therefrom which conforms to the spirit of the invention is intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container for packaged articles, such as paper napkins and the like, comprising a sheet of regenerated cellulose folded and sealed around a plurality of articles, an inner end flap formed by folds of said sheet, an outer end flap formed by folds of said sheet and sealed over the inner end flap to provide an end closure for the container, a reinforcing member secured to the inside of the sheet substantially at the bend line of the outer flap, and a tear tape positioned inside the sheet transversely of the reinforcing secured to the sheet on opposite sides of the tear tape whereby the reinforcing member remains intact at the bend line when the tape is removed to form an access opening in the sheet.

A container in accordance with claim 1 having a reinforcing member secured to each opposite end thereof over thetear tape.

3. A containerin accordance with-claim l'having innerand outer end flaps at two opposite ends, a reinforcing member covering the bend line for the outer flaps at each end, and a tear tape extending underneath the outerend flaps and between the sheet and the reinf-oreingmembers.

4. A container in accordance with claim 3 in which the reinforcing member extends around all four edges of each end adjacent the bend line.

JOSEPH ALFRED ANGLADA.

- References :(Jited mine file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

